Written Answers Friday 13 March 2009

Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides toilets designed to the Changing Places standard in any of its offices.

Alex Neil: The toilet facilities in Scottish Government buildings are fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) standards that apply to existing properties. As the core Scottish Government does not have any buildings to which the public have a general right of access, the Changing Places standard is not applicable to our buildings. However, all building services within the Scottish Government are kept under review to ensure that they meet the needs of staff and visitors.

Bridges

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the replacement road network for the Inveramsay Bridge will be dual carriageway.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) recommends major upgrades to the A96, including 2+1 sections, climbing lanes and overtaking lay-bys, local realignments/junction improvements, upgrading to dual carriageway between Inverness and Nairn, a bypass of Nairn and a new Inveramsay Bridge.

  The detailed design and development of the new Inveramsay Bridge to remove the shuttleworking section will be taken forward in the context of these upgrades to the A96.

  Delivery of these schemes will be prioritised in future spending reviews.

Care of Older People

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether people with dementia living in care homes have the right to spend their accrued savings on aids to benefit them without penalty from local authorities assessing financial contributions towards the cost of care.

Shona Robison: The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 and associate guidance provide the framework for local authorities to charge for the care that they provide or arrange in residential care homes. In carrying out the financial assessment, local authorities have the discretion to decide if an asset was disposed of deliberately to avoid or reduce care charges, taking account of the specific circumstances of each case. Where the resident disagrees with the local authority’s decision, they can complain to the council and ultimately to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Charities and Trustee Investment Bill

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29596 by Malcolm Chisholm on 4 December 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Fergus Ewing: Details of actual substantive costings available centrally are set out in the following table in the same categories as the Financial Memorandum to the Charities and Trustee Investment Bill. The annual costs relate to 2006-07 and 2007-08:

  

 
 Scottish Government
 Local Authorities
 Other bodies and Individuals


 Set Up
 Annual Costs
 Set Up
 Annual Costs
 Set Up
 Annual Costs


 2006-07
£130,000
£2,755,000
 Information not held
 Information not held
 Information not held
 Information not held


 2007-08
 N/A
£3,054,248



  The Scottish Government does not hold details of any expenditure by local authorities or others as an immediate consequence of the act.

Child Protection

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Irish Residential Institutions Redress Board, said by Judge Sean Ryan, Chairperson of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, to have discharged its work smoothly and efficiently, provides a model for Scotland to emulate.

Shona Robison: In addition to a public consultation on the possibility of an Acknowledgement and Accountability forum being established in Scotland for those who have been subject to institutional abuse, the Scottish Government is currently looking at a range of national and international models, including the Irish Redress approach. This work should be concluded by the summer when decisions will be reached on the way forward.

Children

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many instances of restraint of a child there have been in secure units for children in each of the last three years, broken down by institution.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government does not collect this information centrally.

Deafblind People

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards (a) do and (b) do not provide fully trained deafblind guide/communicators, whether directly or jointly with local authorities or through a voluntary organisation, and what steps it will take to ensure equality of access to a deafblind guide/communicator for deafblind people.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

  However, we are aware from information provided by Deafblind Scotland that they provide guide/communicator support within medical services to:

  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde;

  NHS Lothian;

  NHS Lanarkshire, and

  NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

  We also understand that NHS Forth Valley has its own arrangements to provide a limited guide/communicator service within a hospital setting and that NHS Highland use Deaf Services, a voluntary organisation, to provide deafblind support.

  The Scottish Government awarded Deafblind Scotland funding of £120,000 over three years from April 2008 until March 2011 from section 16b of the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978, as amended, to take forward work around the experiences of deafblind people within the health system.

  As part of this work, Deafblind Scotland are currently using the section 16b funding to visit all health boards and to work with them to develop and improve services and ensure equality of access for those who are deafblind.

Drug Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many residential drug treatment places there are and how many there were in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008.

Fergus Ewing: The Review of Residential Drug Detoxification and Rehabilitation Services in Scotland, published in July 2007, found that there were 352 beds across 22 residential services in Scotland.

  At the end of February 2009, the National Directory of Drug Services, maintained by the Scottish Drugs Forum and funded by Scottish Government, showed that there was a total of 450 beds across 28 residential services.

  The number of beds does not equate to the number of places which depends on occupancy rates and length of programme.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it values the views of parents of schoolchildren.

Keith Brown: Yes. The government has made clear how it values, seeks and listens to the views of parents on a wide range of matters to do with the education of their children.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it consults parents when proposing changes in policy or legislation on schools.

Keith Brown: Government consults parent councils and other parent representative bodies directly. For example, the chairs of all parent councils and various parent organisations were sent copies of the consultation paper and invited to comment on our proposals for legislative change in relation to rural schools and school consultation procedures. Other appropriate means of ascertaining parents’ views are also used, including open meetings, use of focus groups, the commissioning of surveys, research and via the parentzone website.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a need for a national body to represent the views of parents of schoolchildren.

Keith Brown: Yes. At the first national conference for Parent Councils in June 2008 the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning made clear her agreement with the many parents who think that there should be such a national body. That is why we have commissioned a survey of all parent councils on this issue.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to the Scottish Parent Councils Association.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Parent Councils Association is a wholly independent organisation which charges member schools an annual fee. It does not receive government funding.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the results of its recent survey of parent councils.

Keith Brown: We have yet to receive the results of the survey although they are expected soon.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the results of its recent survey of parent councils.

Keith Brown: We have yet to receive the results of the survey and will then wish to give them proper consideration.

Employment

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the absence of a Train to Gain scheme in Scotland puts businesses at a competitive disadvantage to their English counterparts.

Fiona Hyslop: A recent Ofsted evaluation of Train to Gain demonstrates that despite significant levels of funding and uptake by employers, there was little evidence of Train to Gain driving an increased demand from employers for training. A previous evaluation had indicated that programme deadweight levels could be over 80%.

  The Scottish Government is committed to supporting businesses and helping them address their skills needs. Skills Development Scotland is working with employers and Sector Skills Council to ensure that publicly funded skills interventions address the needs of both businesses and individuals in Scotland.

Employment

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the reasons for the training allowance for long-term unemployed people in Scotland being £1,500 less than that in England.

Fiona Hyslop: The UK Government recently announced that up to £2,500 would be available to employers recruiting those who were over six months unemployed. This comprises £1,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions as a "golden hello", and £1,500 through Train to Gain. This is not a training allowance for the long-term unemployed – it will be paid to employers.

  People who are out of work in Scotland can access a range of training including Training for Work, the national vocational training programme for the unemployed, which aims to provide the skills individuals require to access specific job opportunities.

Energy Efficiency

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish a draft energy efficiency action plan.

Jim Mather: The provision in the Climate Change Bill for a Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan will require Scottish ministers to prepare and publish the action plan no later than 12 months after the legislation comes into force, and to report on the implementation of the action plan every year to Parliament. The action plan will also have to be reviewed at least every three years. In order to assist Parliament in its consideration of the provision in the bill we intend to publish an outline of the proposed plan in the spring.

Enterprise

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for one-to-one assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises by the Business Gateway and when the criteria were last revised.

John Swinney: Business Gateway advice services are provided in lowland Scotland under contracts let by Scottish Enterprise in October 2007 to successful contractors following a competitive tender exercise. The management of these contracts was transferred to 12 lead local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area in April 2008.

  Delivery of advice under the contracts as let is targeted as follows:

  Customers expected to trade at less than the VAT threshold are referred to the Business Gateway website and the "one to many" tools and workshops available on line. This includes the opportunity for a one-to-one session at a "meet the advisor" workshop;

  Customers expected to trade above the VAT threshold receive one-to-one advice to assist in their progression to a VAT+ trading position within 12 months of start-up, and

  Customers expected to achieve or increase turnover of more than £400,000 within three years receive one-to-one advice in agreement with Scottish Enterprise as part of the "growth pipeline". Additional one-to-one support in this customer group is in preparation for entry to the Scottish Enterprise Account Management portfolio within 12 months.

  We are currently in discussions with COSLA and the Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development (SLAED) Group representatives regarding the Business Gateway process and delivery segmentation to ensure that it remains fit for purpose during this period of economic challenge.

Enterprise

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers approved the announcement of the decision to end the separate status of ITI Scotland without prior notification to the Convener of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.

Jim Mather: The decision to integrate the ITIs into Scottish Enterprise and to make an announcement was an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ministers were kept advised of developments but were not required to formally approve the announcement nor to notify the Convener of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee in advance.

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29604 by Johann Lamont on 21 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Fergus Ewing: The Financial Memorandum to the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 anticipated costs for the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Scottish Court Service only. Data on actual costs is not held centrally.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has obtained on the legality of its proposals on fishing quotas and licences and whether it will make that advice public.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not discuss legal advice publicly. We are confident what is proposed is within devolved competence of Scottish ministers.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the legality of its proposals on fishing quotas and licences with Her Majesty’s Government; whether a joint position was agreed, and, if so, what that joint position is.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not discuss legal issues publicly. The Westminster Government is familiar with the proposals and the consultation that we are undertaking.

Fisheries

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will accede to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s request for a joint legal opinion to be given by the Scottish and UK law officers on the legality of the Scottish Executive’s proposals on fishing quotas and licences.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not disclose either that Law Officers’ advice has been sought or what that advice was. As a result of the devolution settlement and the fact that Scotland now has a devolved administration, it would be highly unusual for the Scottish Government to require to seek a joint Opinion with the Westminster Government from the Law Officers.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the annual cost would be of providing vitamin D supplements to all pregnant women.

Shona Robison: This information is not available.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the annual cost would be of providing vitamin D supplements to all children aged between the age of six months and four years.

Shona Robison: This information is not available.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of published guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on borderline and antisocial personality disorders, what steps it is taking to ensure that individuals with such disorders have access to the necessary assessments, treatment management and support.

Shona Robison: Services for people with personality disorders are planned and delivered by NHS boards and their partners in line with national clinical guidelines and in accordance with the standards for integrated care pathways for personality disorders, published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) in December 2007 (Bib. number 44374).

  This is complemented by the work of the Scottish Personality Disorders Network in engaging with key partners to promote best care, treatment and support for this patient group.

  We are also providing funding support to NHS Lothian who are piloting joint work between the board, the prison service and criminal justice social work services to improve the management and treatment of offenders with personality disorders.

Health

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the effectiveness of community health partnerships, community health and care partnerships and community planning partnerships are monitored.

Shona Robison: 1. Community health partnerships (CHPs) are not separate statutory bodies. They have been established as committees or sub committees of NHS boards and are accountable for their performance to NHS boards. Where a NHS board and local authority have established a CHP then both the NHS board and local authority would be expected to monitor their performance.

  2. Audit Scotland assesses community planning in each local authority area as part of the rolling programme of audits of best value and community planning which it undertakes.

Health

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the operational effectiveness of community health partnerships, community health and care Partnerships and community planning partnerships.

Shona Robison: 1. The Scottish Government has commissioned a study of Community Health Partnerships (including Community Health and Care Partnerships) which will be completed in March 2010. The study will consider their early operation and progress against their original objectives. It will also identify how their capacity and capability can be improved to enable them to fulfil their statutory duties and respond to emerging challenges.

  2. A small number of local Community Health Partnership studies have been carried out recently and this will be helpful additional information to inform the national study.

  3. Audit Scotland published Community Planning: an Initial Review in June 2006. It assesses Community Planning in each Local Authority area as part of the rolling programme of audits of Best Value and Community Planning which it undertakes.

Health

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what budgets have been provided to community health partnerships, community health and care partnerships and community planning partnerships in Glasgow, broken down by partnership.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provides NHS boards with a total budget to provide health services for its population. It does not provide budgets directly to Community Health Partnerships (CHPs) or Community Health and Care Partnerships (CHCPs). NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is responsible for determining the size and range of budgets devolved to CHPs (and CHCPs) in its area.

  Under the concordat we have minimised the amount of funding that is ring fenced. However, the Glasgow Community Planning Partnership has been allocated £154.474 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) over 2008-11. The FSF aims to support Community Planning Partnerships to work together to tackle area based and individual poverty and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. £0.586 million per year, for the period 2009-11, has also been provided as a contribution towards the support of city wide and local community planning structures in Glasgow.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what health risks are associated with hormone replacement therapies provided by the NHS.

Shona Robison: The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA and its independent advisory committee the commission on Human Medicines keep the safety of all licensed medicines, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), under close review.

  Comprehensive information on the risks and benefits of HRT can be found on the MHRA’s website www.mhra.gov.uk.

Health

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of delays in the supply of pharmaceuticals to community pharmacists and consequently to patients as a result of the direct-to-pharmacy supply schemes recently introduced by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Shona Robison: A number of pharmaceutical manufacturers have changed their distribution systems and we are aware of the various issues that affect the supply of medicines to community pharmacies. Whilst the method of medicines distribution is a commercial decision for the manufacturer concerned, we would expect patients to continue to receive the medicines they need promptly.

Health and Safety

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that drinking water from coolers at (a) schools, (b) leisure centres, (c) hospitals and care homes and (d) companies from all sectors meet safety and hygiene standards.

Shona Robison: Drinking water used in coolers, whether from the mains supply or bottled, is subject to rigorous EU water quality standards and testing, covering both chemical and microbiological safety.

  However, primary responsibility for the maintenance and cleanliness of water coolers rests with the organisations that install them and everyone who uses them also have a role to play.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time higher education students were assessed as coming from single parent families in each of the last five years and when new statistics will be available.

Fiona Hyslop: Prior to the introduction of the new means testing arrangements at the beginning of the current academic year (2008-09), the income of a parent’s partner or of a step-parent (unless they had legally adopted a student) was not included in the assessment of student support. Therefore students would not need to supply details of such relationships. As a result it is not possible to say how many students came from single parent families.

  From 2008-09 onwards the income of parents’ partners and step-parents who haven’t legally adopted the student will be included in support assessments and therefore it will be possible to look at how many students applying for income assessed support come from single parent families.

  Statistics on higher education student support provided by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in academic year 2008-09 will be available in November this year.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time higher education students were assessed as being exempt from parental/spousal contribution and as income not declared/required in each of the last five years and when new statistics will be available.

Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the number of full-time higher education students supported by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in academic years 2003-04 to 2007-08 who were assessed as:

  1. "Income not declared/required", and

  2. "Exempt from parental spousal contribution".

  The total number of full-time higher education students supported by SAAS is also shown.

  

 Academic Year
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Number of Students


 Income not declared/required
 34,715
 37,395
 38,865
 39,740
 42,345


 Exempt from parental/spousal contribution
 19,785
 18,060
 17,765
 18,990
 18,865


 All full-time students receiving support
 121,020
 119,745
 120,400
 121,200
 121,775



  Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

  Student numbers have been rounded up or down to the nearest five.

  The income categories are based on residual benefactor income i.e. income after deductions allowed by SAAS have been subtracted.

  Statistics on the assessed benefactor income of full-time students supported by SAAS in academic year 2008-09 will be available in November this year.

Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29564 by Malcolm Chisholm on 4 December 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Alex Neil: The Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 is still in the process of being implemented. In any event, robust information on the costs of implementation is not held centrally as it is for each local authority and their partners to allocate resources for this purpose on the basis of local needs and priorities. It is not possible to accurately disaggregate costs which assist in preventing and tackling homelessness, whether specifically for the purposes of implementing this legislation or otherwise, across the wide range of bodies and activities this will encompass.

Housing

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many housing association properties there have been in each (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency in each year since 1999.

Alex Neil: I have asked Karen Watt the Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.

  Her response is as follows:

  The number of self-contained properties owned by housing associations (by local authority area) as at 31 March each year since 2002 is shown in the following table. The information for the years 1999 to 2002 is not held centrally.

  Information on a constituency basis is not held centrally.

  

 Local Authority
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Aberdeen City
 3,496
 3,685
 3,700
 3,773
 3,927
 3,966
 3,999


 Aberdeenshire
 2,620
 3,194
 3,292
 3,514
 3,659
 3,732
 3,856


 Angus
 2,712
 2,828
 2,862
 2,921
 2,969
 3,030
 3,092


 Argyll and Bute
 2,412
 2,501
 2,478
 2,516
 2,519
 7,943
 7,872


 City of Edinburgh
 12,577
 12,948
 13,586
 13,835
 14,135
 14,901
 15,293


 City of Glasgow
 39,923
 122,044
 120,597
 119,223
 117,332
 115,973
 113,829


 Clackmannanshire
 1,625
 1,734
 1,756
 1,753
 1,768
 1,789
 1,775


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1,976
 2,144
 13,667
 13,468
 13,339
 13,633
 13,694


 Dundee City
 7,973
 8,262
 8,335
 7,801
 8,054
 8,079
 7,785


 East Ayrshire
 2,810
 2,933
 2,873
 2,851
 2,825
 2,838
 2,915


 East Dunbartonshire
 579
 704
 686
 1,543
 1,529
 1,512
 1,568


 East Lothian
 1,503
 1,463
 1,628
 1,699
 1,772
 1,825
 1,873


 East Renfrewshire
 960
 938
 966
 955
 1,029
 1,018
 1,015


 Falkirk
 2,381
 2,653
 2,649
 2,640
 2,636
 3,092
 3,073


 Fife
 4,688
 6,749
 6,793
 6,847
 6,993
 7,473
 7,662


 Highland
 3,896
 4,541
 4,639
 4,754
 4,869
 5,109
 5,410


 Inverclyde
 3,078
 3,566
 3,369
 3,439
 3,510
 3,488
 11,566


 Midlothian
 2,735
 2,686
 2,696
 2,676
 2,770
 2,787
 2,787


 Moray
 691
 1,070
 1,610
 1,448
 1,533
 1,674
 1,830


 North Ayrshire
 3,963
 4,020
 4,066
 4,111
 4,157
 4,167
 4,281


 North Lanarkshire
 7,709
 8,214
 8,114
 8,138
 8,098
 8,167
 8,193


 Orkney Islands
 354
 377
 396
 434
 442
 476
 495


 Perth and Kinross
 2,334
 2,559
 2,702
 2,896
 2,907
 2,961
 3,058


 Renfrewshire
 6,379
 6,548
 6,612
 6,780
 6,917
 7,065
 7,178


 Scottish Borders
 3,842
 12,517
 12,246
 12,023
 11,888
 11,697
 11,903


 Shetland Islands
 268
 278
 277
 300
 304
 340
 360


 South Ayrshire
 1,189
 1,429
 1,465
 1,545
 1,551
 1,781
 1,671


 South Lanarkshire
 3,974
 4,129
 5,111
 5,371
 5,384
 5,400
 5,499


 Stirling
 999
 1,270
 1,347
 1,432
 1,481
 1,478
 1,660


 West Dunbartonshire
 5,719
 5,815
 5,645
 5,728
 5,651
 5,634
 5,602


 Western Isles
 214
 249
 259
 274
 323
 1,840
 2,139


 West Lothian
 4,125
 4,424
 4,652
 4,787
 4,829
 6,579
 6,690


 Total
 139,704
 238,472
 251,074
 251,475
 251,100
 261,447
 269,623



  Source: Scottish Housing Regulator, RSL Annual performance and statistical returns 2002-08.

  Note: During the period 2002-2008 the following councils transferred their entire housing stock to a Housing Association: Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow City, Scottish Borders, Inverclyde and Western Isles.

Housing

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses have been sold under right to buy legislation in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: The requested information is available to download in Excel format from the Housing Statistics for Scotland website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/HSfSSalesAppsDataset2.

  The second last table in the spreadsheet contains the number of sales to sitting tenants of local authority housing over the last ten years, by local authority. It excludes sales of ex-local authority stock which has been transferred to housing associations. Figures which include these sales can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/SalesSittingTenants.

Housing

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the combined sale value was of all properties sold under right to buy legislation in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government collects information on the numbers and prices of local authority stock sold to sitting tenants. Sales of former local authority stock following stock transfer to housing associations are also included, as are sales of former Scottish Homes stock. However, there is no centrally held information on the sale price of the majority of housing association properties, and so these are excluded from the table.

  The following table shows the total value of all sales to sitting tenants between 1998-99 and 2007-08. Figures are shown in current prices, and include Right to Buy, Rent to Mortgage, and voluntary sales.

  Table 1: Value of Sales to Sitting Tenants, 1998-99 to 2007-08, (£ Million)

  

 Local Authority Area
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03


 Scotland
 461.0
 494.1
 490.9
 500.8
 680.0


 Aberdeen City
 34.4
 35.3
 30.5
 26.1
 30.1


 Aberdeenshire
 11.2
 14.6
 15.1
 13.9
 20.6


 Angus
 7.2
 7.9
 8.8
 6.5
 9.7


 Argyll and Bute
 4.7
 5.4
 4.3
 6.2
 10.1


 Clackmannanshire
 4.5
 4.7
 4.1
 5.4
 9.2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 9.3
 11.8
 11.8
 12.3
 15.1


 Dundee City
 10.2
 8.0
 9.2
 7.7
 9.6


 East Ayrshire
 12.0
 16.2
 17.0
 14.5
 20.1


 East Dunbartonshire
 7.5
 7.3
 7.0
 7.6
 15.7


 East Lothian
 6.7
 10.2
 15.9
 16.3
 29.9


 East Renfrewshire
 3.3
 2.2
 4.7
 5.1
 7.1


 Edinburgh (City of)
 22.1
 22.9
 27.8
 25.1
 34.2


 Eilean Siar
 1.5
 1.0
 0.9
 1.0
 2.9


 Falkirk
 15.7
 12.0
 18.5
 21.1
 30.7


 Fife
 25.5
 29.0
 25.0
 29.8
 30.8


 Glasgow City
 57.1
 62.0
 65.9
 67.1
 73.9


 Highland
 19.4
 23.3
 21.5
 20.5
 25.4


 Inverclyde
 10.9
 11.6
 12.1
 9.3
 10.9


 Midlothian
 8.2
 9.7
 9.4
 11.9
 18.7


 Moray
 4.5
 6.8
 5.1
 6.6
 8.4


 North Ayrshire
 9.5
 13.2
 11.6
 12.8
 18.2


 North Lanarkshire
 43.9
 47.9
 52.2
 47.6
 65.4


 Orkney
 1.3
 1.6
 0.9
 0.9
 0.8


 Perth and Kinross
 8.0
 10.0
 7.4
 8.2
 15.3


 Renfrewshire
 16.6
 14.3
 16.0
 23.8
 27.7


 Scottish Borders
 4.3
 5.1
 6.0
 7.3
 7.5


 Shetland
 2.0
 4.4
 3.5
 2.0
 4.3


 South Ayrshire
 9.1
 8.2
 6.9
 8.4
 13.7


 South Lanarkshire
 42.3
 40.3
 35.7
 33.4
 49.3


 Stirling
 7.7
 8.6
 8.3
 9.4
 15.4


 West Dunbartonshire
 9.7
 9.4
 7.2
 9.1
 14.3


 West Lothian
 15.2
 17.8
 13.5
 19.3
 32.2


 Scottish Homes
 6.8
 4.9
 3.0
 2.0
 1.2



  

 Local Authority Area
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Scotland
 676.5
 641.7
 628.8
 560.8
 521.0


 Aberdeen City
 29.4
 27.8
 30.2
 31.3
 41.9


 Aberdeenshire
 15.1
 14.2
 19.3
 14.5
 21.1


 Angus
 8.0
 9.5
 9.2
 8.4
 8.1


 Argyll and Bute
 10.9
 11.7
 9.5
 4.2
 5.6


 Clackmannanshire
 7.0
 6.0
 6.7
 7.6
 6.3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 16.6
 12.9
 14.0
 13.2
 11.0


 Dundee City
 7.7
 11.7
 12.5
 14.3
 15.0


 East Ayrshire
 21.7
 21.1
 22.6
 16.8
 15.6


 East Dunbartonshire
 19.6
 12.0
 11.0
 8.3
 6.6


 East Lothian
 25.7
 22.4
 18.3
 15.1
 14.8


 East Renfrewshire
 4.9
 5.1
 6.5
 6.3
 3.1


 Edinburgh (City of)
 52.3
 38.9
 27.7
 31.0
 26.2


 Eilean Siar
 1.7
 2.2
 2.3
 0.8
 1.7


 Falkirk
 25.0
 29.5
 32.0
 26.9
 25.3


 Fife
 57.4
 55.4
 51.2
 42.4
 33.6


 Glasgow City
 62.2
 45.8
 46.6
 41.0
 38.9


 Highland
 27.0
 30.5
 31.9
 22.3
 19.7


 Inverclyde
 7.6
 4.4
 8.4
 7.2
 ..


 Midlothian
 21.6
 16.7
 15.4
 14.7
 11.2


 Moray
 7.3
 9.3
 11.1
 8.2
 9.7


 North Ayrshire
 18.1
 20.3
 26.1
 21.7
 20.1


 North Lanarkshire
 51.9
 56.5
 60.2
 54.9
 52.6


 Orkney
 1.4
 0.9
 0.9
 0.9
 1.0


 Perth and Kinross
 15.3
 12.6
 12.9
 14.6
 12.6


 Renfrewshire
 19.0
 20.8
 22.1
 18.9
 13.5


 Scottish Borders
 7.5
 8.2
 8.9
 9.2
 6.9


 Shetland
 2.0
 1.9
 2.9
 2.0
 3.5


 South Ayrshire
 17.3
 19.4
 12.6
 10.6
 7.3


 South Lanarkshire
 56.3
 53.6
 49.1
 47.3
 44.0


 Stirling
 12.0
 15.9
 11.6
 12.0
 10.1


 West Dunbartonshire
 16.9
 17.6
 15.0
 15.0
 12.3


 West Lothian
 28.5
 25.2
 20.0
 19.1
 22.0


 Scottish Homes
 0.7
 0.6
 0.1
 na
 na



  Source: Sales3 returns by local authorities to Scottish Government Communities Analytical Services.

  Notes:

  1. Figures include Right to Buy, Rent to Mortgage, and voluntary sales, by local authorities and Scottish Homes.

  2. Figures for Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and the Scottish Borders are included following transfer of stock to housing associations in 2003. Figures for Eilean Siar and Argyll and Bute are also included following their recent stock transfer in 2006.

  3. Figures for Inverclyde not available for 2007-08 due to outstanding returns. We estimate that there were just over 100 such sales, but have not estimated a total sale value.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19223 by Stewart Maxwell on 21 January 2009, whether the fact that no properties were built by the Devanha consortium in 2005-06 and 2006-07 resulted in an underspend in the Grampian region’s housing programme budget allocation and, if so, to where the surplus was relocated.

Alex Neil: The Devanha Grant Offer was approved in March 2007, and so there were no properties built by the Devanha Consortium in 2005-06 or 2006-07. There was therefore no associated underspend.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all costing benchmarks that were agreed with the Devanha consortium during the tendering processes for new housing developments and the extent to which the targets were met.

Alex Neil: The Devanha grant offer set a three person equivalent cost benchmark of £67,248, base dated March 2007. All projects agreed with the Devanha Consortium are assessed against this benchmark.

  The Devanha Consortium is operating an open-book contracting process, therefore the final costs of delivery against targets will not be confirmed until the total programme completes.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the names of consultants it contracted when setting up the (a) Devanha consortium and (b) Highland Housing Alliance consortium and a breakdown of the amounts paid to the consultants.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government did not contract with any consultants to establish Devanha Ltd. However, Devanha Ltd engaged the support of the Collaborative Working Centre (CWC) to provide guidance and support on the open-book procurement process.

  Brian Burns Associates were contracted to assist in the setting up of the Highland Housing Alliance. On 19 October 2004, Communities Scotland contributed £6,148.75 towards engaging Brian Burns Associates to advise and prepare proposals for the Alliance on structural and operational topics. A further contribution of £14,000 was made on 24 March 2005 towards business planning support.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an analysis of the Devanha consortium was completed in 2008.

Alex Neil: Heriot-Watt University and DTZ were commissioned by the Scottish Government to carry out a monitoring and evaluation study of Devanha to run over the three year period of the programme. It draws on evidence collected through the monitoring and evaluation framework developed by the consultants through discussion with Scottish Government and Devanha partners and stakeholders. Key documents guiding the analysis have been the Offer of Grant from Scottish Ministers to Devanha Limited and the Programme Agreement between the Scottish Government and Devanha Limited. The evaluation will likely lead to a final published report, expected to be in 2011.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to meet the housing needs of ex-service personnel.

Alex Neil: In July 2008 the Scottish Government published a paper entitled, Scotland’s Veterans and Forces’ Communities: meeting our commitment and contributed to The Nation’s Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans. These set out a series of measures that the Scottish Government is putting in place to improve the quality of life for armed forces’ personnel and their families stationed in Scotland and for our veterans’ community. These commitments cover a range of issues across the Scottish Government, including housing. Copies of these documents are available from the Scottish Government’s website at the following links:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion/veterans/CommitmentPaperJuly08.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion/veterans/TheNationsCommitment.

  In addition, to support the implementation of these commitments the Scottish Government issued a circular to all Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords on Housing for People Leaving the Armed Forces on 23 February 2009. This provides guidance for social landlords on meeting the housing needs of ex-Service personnel and their families and provides information about other available housing options and support. The circular is available on the Scottish Government’s website at the following link www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/13095130.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to give ex-service personnel priority in the allocation of social housing.

Alex Neil: Scottish housing legislation requires social landlords to allocate their housing on an objective and non-discriminatory assessment of housing need. This means that, like other applicants, ex-Service personnel are allocated social housing based upon their level of housing need and ensures those in the greatest need are given priority.

  To raise awareness of the housing needs of people leaving the armed forces, the Scottish Government issued a revised circular to social landlords in Scotland. This set out that social landlords should give fair and sympathetic consideration to applications from ex-service personnel and that they should not be disadvantaged compared with other applicants. A copy of the circular is available on the Scottish Government website at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/13095130/0.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking with the Ministry of Defence to provide more housing for ex-service personnel.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government aims to increase the supply of housing across all tenures to help meet housing need, including the needs of ex-Service personnel. The Scottish Government’s Housing and Regeneration Circular, Housing for People Leaving the Armed Forces, aims to raise awareness of the housing needs of ex-Service Personnel amongst local authorities and registered social landlords (RSL). The circular encourages local authorities with large services establishments in their areas to work with them to address any potential problems for ex-service personnel at an early stage. It also highlights potential opportunities for using vacant Ministry of Defence (MOD) properties as temporary accommodation for ex-service personnel and for RSLs to purchase surplus properties and land from the MOD.

  A copy of the circular is available on the Scottish Government’s website at the following link www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/13095130/0.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure the provision of appropriate housing for seriously injured ex-service personnel.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is taking forward a number of measures to support the provision of appropriate housing for seriously injured ex-service personnel including:

  issuing a housing circular reminding social landlords of the high priority seriously injured ex-service personnel receive in the allocation of social housing;

  introducing a simpler and fairer system of financial assistance for home adaptations for a disabled person, coming into force on 1 April 2009, and

  encouraging registered social landlords to provide additional support and flexibility within the Scottish Government’s shared equity schemes to ensure that disabled buyers, such as injured service personnel, can access the schemes and that the properties meet their particular needs.

Infant Mortality

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of late fetal deaths per 1,000 live births was in 2008, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is currently not available. This will become available when the annual Scottish Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Report for 2008 is published by Information Services Division (ISD) at the end of November 2009.

Lottery Funding

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been successful in retrieving "a substantial sum of National Lottery funding", as called for in motion S3M-2589, which was passed unanimously on 25 September 2008.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government wrote to Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 November 2008 requesting the return of £150 million lottery diverted away from Scottish causes to help fund the London 2012 Games. At the time of writing we have had no reply to the letter. As the new Minister for Sport I view this as an early priority and to this end I have made further representations to Mr Burnham on 3 March 2009.

Marine Bill

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering introducing further provisions to designate no-take zones in inshore fisheries in its forthcoming Marine Bill.

Richard Lochhead: We intend that the Scottish Marine Bill will contain provisions to establish Marine Protected Areas as one of the range of measures to support the conservation of Scotland’s marine environment. However, we are not considering the introduction of further provisions to designate no-take zones in waters adjacent to Scotland.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase recovery rates for people with schizophrenia.

Shona Robison: The NHS in Scotland works with local government and voluntary sector partners as well as patients and their carers to offer care and treatment which is in accordance with clinical evidence of effectiveness.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) has worked with stakeholders to develop integrated care pathways to improve how schizophrenia and other mental health conditions are managed by health and other care systems over time. The first stage of accreditation for these pathways is by September this year.

  The Scottish Recovery Network undertakes work across Scotland that promotes the evidence that people can and do recover from mental illness and that those who continue to have symptoms of illness can live meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether information is held centrally on the (a) longest and (b) average waiting times to see (i) psychologists, (ii) psychiatrists and (iii) cognitive behavioural therapists in each NHS board area.

Shona Robison: Centrally collected information is not available.

  In most cases those requiring access to mental health services already receive treatment well within 18 weeks. However, for those areas where delays occur, we have been considering a new waiting time target and work is already underway towards establishing a target for referral to treatment for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for 2010-11. Access to psychological therapies will also be receiving similar attention over the coming months.

Ministerial Correspondence

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance was in answering ministerial correspondence in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Bruce Crawford: In the quarter October to December 2008, 9,629 letters were received by ministers and 96 % received a reply within our target of 20 working days.

Ministerial Meetings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held between Scottish ministers and representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Group since November 2008; who was involved, and what the outcome was in each case.

Jim Mather: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Myalgic Encephalitis

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist support exists to enable people with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome to receive a diagnosis and treatment.

Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) is developing clinical standards for neurological conditions. Standard statement 2 is that patients with suspected neurological disorders are assessed by clinicians who specialise in neurological conditions and patients are assessed within timescales dictated by their clinical needs. NHS QIS published the draft standards for consultation on 24 November 2008, with publication due in summer 2009.

  We have provided Action for ME with funding to develop a Scottish Good Practice Statement for GPs on CFS/ME. This is intended to ensure better and more consistent standards of care for patients, including quicker and more reliable diagnosis of the illness and agreed clinical/diagnostic criteria for CFS/ME. The advice is due to be published in the near future. It is expected to include information about the specialists to whom GPs might make a referral.

NHS Services

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by NHS hospitals on courier or taxi transportation services for medical samples, products, equipment and documents, including blood products, medical products, samples for analysis, medical equipment, x-rays, patient records and other medical documents, in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board area and hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

National Conversation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18397 by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 January 2009, when it expects to (a) evaluate and (b) publish responses to the National Conversation; how it plans to do this, and how much it anticipates that this will cost.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18397 on 7 January 2009, which made clear that the Scottish Government and its officials are evaluating contributions to the National Conversation on an on-going basis. Work on the National Conversation is done by officials as part of their normal duties within existing budgets. Contributions to the National Conversation are available on the National Conversation website.

  The Scottish Government will publish its response to the National Conversation in time to inform debate in the referendum planned for 2010.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Parliamentary Questions

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-19855, which received a holding answer on 29 January 2009.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19855 on 12 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether police constables are being used to deliver training to probationer constables at the Scottish Police College and, if so, for what areas of training they are responsible.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SPSA to respond in writing to the member.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time served is of a police constable.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the successful completion rate was for each intake of probationer constables in each of the last three years.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21097 on 12 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that a consistently high quality of training is administered given that year one refresher training for police officers is now administered by individual forces rather than the Scottish Police College.

Kenny MacAskill: The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) Personnel and Training Business Area, through the Probationer Training Officers User Group and the Probationer Training Sub-Group, continues to monitor the new arrangements. The Scottish Police College is in constant dialogue with these groups in addition to on-going consultation and evaluation with Heads of Force Training Departments.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it is giving police forces to run year one refresher training for officers, previously administered by the Scottish Police College.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SPSA to respond.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many training places for new police constables were (a) allocated and (b) taken up by each police force for each intake at the Scottish Police College since May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21097 on 12 March 2009, for general statistics on each intake. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement in a press release of 2 February 2009, how it calculated that 16,000 jobs are to be created in the renewables industry over the next decade.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20460 on 3 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 2 February 2009, whether it will outline the (a) types of jobs, (b) industries and (c) exact number of jobs in each industry that constitute the 16,000 renewable energy-related jobs to be created over the next decade.

Jim Mather: The estimate is based on analysis by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform of the potential expansion in centralised renewable electricity generation, renewable microgeneration, and in domestic biofuel feedstock and refinery activities necessary to meet the EU renewable energy transport targets.

  Our Renewables Action Plan, to be published in the summer, will include an analysis of the economic benefits and supply chain opportunities associated with expanding renewable energy capacity across Scotland.

  In addition, we anticipate that both the Energy Technology Partnership and the Scottish European Green Energy Centre will create further energy research and development opportunities in Scotland.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s higher target for the development of renewables compared with the rest of the United Kingdom will produce more than 10% of the estimated number of UK jobs to be created in the renewables industry over the next decade.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government considers that Scotland’s enormous potential renewable energy resource, its energy infrastructure and skills, opportunities in sectors like carbon capture and storage, combined with the scale of our ambitions for the energy sector mean that we can go higher than the estimate for 16,000 green energy jobs over the next decade.

  Our Renewables Action Plan, to be published in the summer, will include an analysis of economic development opportunities and future potential for growth across the renewables sector, and identify how we can facilitate the creation of jobs by the private sector.

Renewable Energy

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consider anaerobic digestion to be energy from waste.

Richard Lochhead: Anaerobic digestion falls under the category of energy from waste where the biogas produced is captured and used to generate heat and/or power.

Research and Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed to conduct research into (a) nuclear fusion, (b) biodiversity, (c) marine biodiversity and (d) opportunities to install hydroelectric facilities for electricity generation.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) by Peter Cook will include a survey of the cost to crofters and farmers of preparing applications for support from the scheme and will compare that cost with the cost of applying to the agricultural support schemes that the SRDP replaced.

Richard Lochhead: Although being carried out over a relatively short timescale the SRDP first stage review is wide-ranging and will be carried out primarily through face-to-face meetings with and written contributions from stakeholder organisations.

  As part of the Terms of Reference for the first stage review Peter Cook will look at further improvements to the application procedures to ensure all elements of the programme are easily accessible to applicants.

  Rural Priorities applicants can already claim financial assistance towards completing an Outcome Plan, an integral part of the application. Further information about the levels of assistance available, and the applications process itself, can be found on the Rural Priorities website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/RuralPriorities/HowItWorks.

  Comparator data on the cost to applicants of applying for support through the SRDP compared to through previous agricultural support schemes is not available. However, we do have data on the Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) that confirms that 6.53% of RSS applications were prepared without the use of an agent. That has risen significantly under Rural Priorities to almost 28%.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) by Peter Cook will include a survey to assess the percentage of crofters and farmers who employed an agent to prepare their applications for support from the scheme and will compare that percentage with the percentage that used agents to prepare applications for support under the agricultural support schemes that the SRDP replaces.

Richard Lochhead: Statistical information on whether applicants made use of an agent will be taken into consideration by the SRDP first stage review. I can confirm however that as at February 2009, from a total of 5,100 Statements of Intent received through Rural Priorities, 72% had been prepared with the help of an agent. I should point out the figure covers all eligible applications under Rural Priorities and not only from farmers and foresters.

  The only comparator data available relating to any of the previous agricultural support schemes is for the Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) where just over 93% of applications were prepared with the help of an agent.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of the Scotland Rural Development Programme by Peter Cook will investigate how many crofters and farmers have encountered difficulties in making their online applications for support from the scheme and how many did not apply or did not complete an application because applications could only be made online.

Richard Lochhead: The only element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme that is currently exclusively on line is the Rural Priorities (RP) delivery mechanism. We are very encouraged with the uptake of RP thus far with over 5,100 Statements of Intent received and a total of £57.2 million of funding approved to a variety of eligible groups, not just farmers and crofters.

  In recognition that Rural Priorities, a competitive scheme, is very different to previous support programmes, and to assist potential beneficiaries, a series of workshops and surgeries have been undertaken by Scotland’s Environmental and Rural Services (SEARS) staff and organisations such as the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) to provide an initial introduction to Rural Priorities.

  Other assistance we have put in place to aid applicants includes:

  Identifying liaison officers in every Region to develop local solutions to internet access;

  Working with BT to extend broadband coverage across rural Scotland;

  Providing IT helpdesk to assist with login problems;

  Providing applicants with information about alternative local internet access points;

  Providing training material to NFUS for use in one-to-one surgeries across the country;

  Part-funding for applicants who choose to use agents’ services;

  Funding SCVO and the Crofters’ Commission to provide assistance for community groups wishing to submit applications, and

  Exploring the possibility of providing computer access within local SEARS offices.

  Nonetheless if the review produces evidence that the Rural Priorities application process could be made easier for applicants, then this is something we would want to address.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of the Scotland Rural Development Programme by Peter Cook will assess whether sufficient government staff resources had been provided so that applicants whose applications have failed can be given detailed advice on the reasons for their rejection and on how their applications could be amended in order to be successful.

Richard Lochhead: All those seeking funding through the SRDP are provided with feedback if their application is unsuccessful.

  In particular, under the Rural Priorities delivery mechanism, a Case Officer is assigned to each applicant to help them to develop their Statement of Intent which in turn should increase the chances of that application being successful. Therefore applicants are receiving continual feedback on their proposal. A re-worked proposal can be resubmitted at any time.

  However, if the first stage review identifies staff resourcing as an issue then the Scottish Government will consider how to address such findings.

  In recognition that Rural Priorities, a competitive scheme, is very different to previous support programmes, and to assist potential beneficiaries, a series of workshops and surgeries have been undertaken by SEARS staff and organisations such as NFU Scotland to provide an initial introduction to Rural Priorities.

  Other assistance we have put in place to aid applicants includes:

  Identifying liaison officers in every region to develop local solutions to internet access;

  Working with BT to extend broadband coverage across rural Scotland;

  Providing an IT helpdesk to assist with login problems;

  Providing applicants with information about alternative local internet access points;

  Providing training material to NFUS for use in one-to-one surgeries across the country;

  Part-funding for applicants who choose to use agents’ services;

  Funding SCVO and the Crofters’ Commission to provide assistance for community groups wishing to submit applications;

  Exploring the possibility of providing computer access within local SEARS offices.

  In particular under the Rural Priorities delivery mechanism, a Case Officer is assigned to each applicant to help them to develop their Statement of Intent which in turn should increase the chances of that application being successful. Therefore applicants are receiving continual feedback on their proposal. Unsuccessful applicants receive feedback on why their application has not been successful. A re-worked proposal can be resubmitted at any time.

  However, if the first stage review identifies staff resourcing as an issue then the Scottish Government will consider how to address such findings.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many stages will follow the first stage of the review of the Scotland Rural Development Programme by Peter Cook; whether it will provide details of the work to be undertaken in those stages, and what the expected duration is of each stage.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has recently issued an on-going evaluation contract which will assist the statutory Programme Monitoring Committee in its work in monitoring progress of the programme to ensure the SRDP delivers on its objectives.

  The Rural Development Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 requires a mid-term evaluation to be undertaken in 2010. This evaluation will be able to propose measures to improve the quality of the SRDP and its implementation if necessary.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when any changes to the terms of the Scotland Rural Development Programme that could be made as the result of the review by Peter Cook are expected to be made.

Richard Lochhead: We hope to take decisions on the SRDP first stage review in May and any work on amending the SRDP will begin thereafter. Depending on the nature of any changes resulting from the review, it is expected that we will have to submit a formal modification to the Programme to the European Commission which we will do as soon as reasonably possible following the review. EU legislation gives the Commission six months to consider any modification however we will be able to implement separately any changes which do not require formal approval by the Commission.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any changes to the terms of the Scotland Rural Development Programme that could be made as the result of the review by Peter Cook will include the introduction of a scheme for crofters with small agriculture units.

Richard Lochhead: The SRDP already includes a specialist scheme for crofters, namely the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme (CCAGS). In addition to CCAGS, substantial financial support to crofters is available from the SRDP through the non-competitive Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and Rural Development Contracts, Land Managers Options delivery mechanisms. All of these mechanisms will be considered as part of the SRDP first stage review.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether applicants to the Scotland Rural Development Programme whose applications are turned down, either by a Regional Proposal Assessment Committee (RPAC) or by Scottish ministers, will receive a full written explanation setting out the detailed reasons for rejection of their applications and copies of all documentation considered by the RPAC or by ministers.

Richard Lochhead: Unsuccessful applicants to Rural Priorities are given a full explanation of why they were unsuccessful and can discuss any questions with the case officer who dealt with the application.

Scottish Government Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects to receive any consequential increase in funding as a result of the announcement by HM Treasury that the UK Government will lend to PFI projects unable to raise debt finance from the private sector.

John Swinney: No. HM Treasury have made clear that there are no budget consequentials. However, PPP/PFI projects in the devolved administration areas will be eligible for consideration for support on the same terms as PPP/PFI projects elsewhere. Treasury have also made clear that any support will be in the form of loans bearing commercial rates of interest.

Scottish Government Ministers

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of ministerial journeys is made on foot or by public transport.

John Swinney: The information sought could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  However, ministers have used public transport and have walked to and from events in recent months and plan to do so in future, when appropriate opportunities present themselves. They will continue to make travel choices based on the nature of diary engagement, the location of engagements, security considerations and what business needs to be conducted while travelling.

Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29599 by Lewis Macdonald on 20 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Shona Robison: Details of the actual costs available centrally are set out in the following table in the same categories as the Financial Memorandum to the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill.

  

 Policy Area
 Scottish Government
 Health Boards
 Local Authorities
 Other Bodies


Smoking
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
£1.65m for communication campaign and £0.024m for compliance help-line.
Nil
£0.6m
The Scottish Government does not hold details of any expenditure by other bodies as an immediate consequence of the Act


2006-08
costs
Nil
Nil
£3.0m
The Scottish Government does not hold details of any expenditure by other bodies as an immediate consequence of the Act


2007-08 
costs 
Nil
Nil
£2.5m
The Scottish Government does not hold details of any expenditure by other bodies as an immediate consequence of the Act.


Free Eye and Dental Checks
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
£0.135m for free NHS eye examinationsNil for free NHS dental examinations.£43.283m for free NHS eye examinations
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
£17.76m for free NHS dental examinations. This is the total cost of free dental examinations as it is not possible to separately identify the costs for those patients who were previously exempt from dental charges.
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
£57.631m for free NHS eye examinations£18.408m for free NHS dental examinations. This is the total cost of free dental examinations as it is not possible to separately identify the costs for those patients who were previously exempt from dental charges.
Nil
Nil
Nil


Dentistry
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
Nil
It is not possible to disaggregate any additional costs from the overall General Dental Services expenditure.
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
Nil
It is not possible to disaggregate any additional costs from the overall General Dental Services expenditure.
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
Nil
It is not possible to disaggregate any additional costs from the overall General Dental Services expenditure.
Nil
Nil


Listing
 
 
 
 


Setup costs
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
£0.02m to NHS National Services Scotland.


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


Pharmacy
Nil
 
 
 


Set up costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


Discipline
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


Hep C
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


Regulation of Care Amendments and Child Care etc
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


Authorisation of Treatment
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


Joint Ventures
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
 
 
£0.81m
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust
 
 
 
 


Set up costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2006-07 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil


2007-08 costs
 
 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29586 by Johann Lamont on 21 November 2006, whether actual costings are now available and, if so, what these are.

Fergus Ewing: The only financial obligation arising as a result of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 (the Act) is in terms of Section 18 of the Act which provides for an obligation on the owner of property to insure the property for the reinstatement value of that owner’s flat. There will therefore be an additional cost for those bodies, individuals and businesses who were not insured prior to the Act, or who had only insured their properties for market, rather than reinstatement value.

  Although there would be costs associated with possible court actions under sections 5 and 6 of the Act for resolution of disputes, it was anticipated that the judicial salaries and court service costs, together with legal aid costs were capable of being absorbed within existing resources. These costs are not separately identifiable.2

Tourism

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20418 by Jim Mather on 24 February 2009, whether it expects the additional £0.5 million of funding given to VisitScotland for Homecoming Scotland 2009 to generate additional tourism revenue and, if so, how much.

Jim Mather: The budget for Homecoming Scotland 2009 has been enhanced by an additional £0.5 million with the aim of achieving an 8:1 return on that investment.

Weather

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of occasions on which Cold Weather Payments have been triggered in each of the last five years, broken down by each of the weather stations to which Scottish properties are linked by The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/2569).

Alex Neil: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided the following information:

  Number of Times Each Weather Station has Triggered Each Year

  

Weather Station
Admin Area
Area
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Aultbea 
Highland 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
0
0


Aviemore 
Highland 
Scotland 
4
1
3
1
2
5


Bishopton 
Renfrewshire 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
1
2


Boulmer 
Northumberland 
Borders
0
0
0
0
0
0


Braemar 
Aberdeenshire
Scotland 
4
1
3
1
4
6


Carlisle 
Cumbria 
Borders
0
0
0
0
0
3


Cassley 
Highland 
Scotland 
3
0
2
0
1
4


Charterhall 
Scottish Borders
Borders
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1
2


Dundrennan 
Dumfries and Galloway 
Scotland 
1
0
0
0
0
2


Dyce (Aberdeen Airport) 
Aberdeen 
Scotland 
1
0
0
1
0
1


Edinburgh Gogarbank 
Edinburgh 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
1
1


Eskdalemuir 
Dumfries and Galloway 
Scotland 
2
0
4
1
1
6


Kinloss 
Moray 
Scotland 
0
0
1
0
1
3


Kirkwall 
Orkney
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
0
0


Lerwick 
Shetland
Scotland 
1
0
1
0
0
1


Leuchars 
Fife 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
1
2


Loch Glascarnoch 
Highland 
Scotland 
4
1
4
1
3
6


Lusa 
Highland 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
0
1


Machrihanish 
Argyll and Bute 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
0
0


Salsburgh 
North Lanarkshire 
Scotland 
0
0
1
0
1
4


Stornoway Airport 
Western Isles 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
0
0


Tiree 
Argyll and Bute 
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
0
0


Tulloch Bridge 
Highland 
Scotland 
3
1
3
0
1
6


West Freugh 
Dumfries and Galloway
Scotland 
0
0
0
0
0
0


Wick Airport 
Highland 
Scotland 
1
0
1
0
0
1



  Source: Department for Work and Pensions records of triggers and weather stations.

  Notes:

  N/A denotes not applicable: the weather station was not used in the Cold Weather Payment scheme in that year.

  1. The list of weather stations covers all weather stations to which postcodes in Scotland are linked (whether or not they have triggered).

  2. The admin area gives the location of each weather station, not the area which is linked to the weather station. For example, different parts of the Highland admin area are linked to different weather stations.

  3. Weather stations described as Borders straddle the border between Scotland and England.

  4. Over the years, there have been some changes to postcode to weather station linkages.

  5. Triggers for 2008-09 are those notified up to 26 February.

Correction

The reply to question S3W-18599 which was originally answered on 15 December 2008, has been corrected: see page 5731 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-09/wa0312.htm.